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Summary of Content: Fear or rising debt and taxes. Written as President to his Secretary of War. Adams approves McHenry’s raising a company of cavalry [sic] but worries at cost. ”This system of Debts and Taxes is levelling all government in Europe.” JA was staying at his home at Quincy at the time

Full Transcript: Quincy July 27. 1799, , Sir, I have recd your favour of the 20th. And have no Objection to the plan you propose of raising a Company of Cavalry. - on ”Our means”! I never think of our means without Shuddering! All the Declamations as well as Demonstrations of Trenchard & Gordon, Bolingbroke Bernard & Walpole, Hume, Burgh and Burke, rush upon my Memory and frighten me out of my Witts. The system of Debts and Taxes is leveling all Government in Europe. We have, a Career to run to be sure and some time [struck: before Us] to pass before We arrive at the European Crisis. But We must ultimately go the same Way. There is no practicable or imaginable Expedient to escape it, that I can conceive., J. Adams, , Secretary of War., , [docket], Quincy July 27. 1799, , 27th July 1799, President of the U.S.